Letter by Jon Crump, Tacoma
on May 1, 2013 at 10:46 am
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May 1, 2013 3:09 pm

I thought this editorial was a reasonable call to action to the overwhelming majority of citizens who are in favor of basic gun regulations but sit silently at home.

There is a very passionate and organized group of Americans who truly believe that their best defense against tyranny and crime is a firearm. While I sympathize and share the same fears, I do not believe that simply saturating a society with lethal capabilities is the most thought-out and efficient way to alleviate those fears.

I am a combat veteran and trained gun owner who in no way wishes to relinquish his firearm. However, I am open to the idea that in order for an armed citizenry to be effective, it is vital that those citizens be mentally stable non-felons. They should be trained and licensed (like we require of car owners.) Although, if you believe our country is just steps away from fascism, then it is hard to reason with extremism.

I have heard the argument that individual states should decide the issue of gun control, not Congress. Well, Washington happens to be one of the few states to allow important issues such as gun control to be democratically voted on by state initiative.

This state understood long ago that when representatives will not act because they see no political gain in doing so, we the people can act and democratically alter the laws.